Cinderella has arrived

[Bike Goddess]

My envelope for the famous Cinderella ride arrived yesterday. Now to decide what to do. I'm thinking that IF I do this ride, I'll do the Challenge. I've done the classic ride many times and am a bit bored with it (not the people, mind you, just the same old route). The Challenge is just that. The climb up Patterson is hard towards the top, but other than that not a hard route (unless it's 38 degrees and windy like last year!).

Anyone else up for this segment of the ride??????????

[SadieKate]

If you're bored by it, why take up a spot in such a popular event with limited spaces? I bet there are a lot of beginning riders who would love to ride it.

[Veronica]

Isn't Cinderella the same day as Party Pardee?

Veronica

[maillotpois]

If you're bored by it, why take up a spot in such a popular event with limited spaces? I bet there are a lot of beginning riders who would love to ride it.

My theoretical spot is up for grabs... :D

[SadieKate]

Mine, too! I did it 4 times spread over nearly 20 years with the last two being only to accompany friends who were new to such things. It's a great first metric or century. After that, I went in seach of new pastures. :D

[Veronica]

I've kind of sworn off organized rides in general. Most rides I can do without the support. Plus hordes of cyclists always seem to have poor road manners.

Veronica

[jobob]

The Challenge route sounds pretty good.

[Bike Goddess]

In answer to why I might do this ride- at the end of February we have a training ride for Cinderella that starts about 25 feet from my house and which I have been involved with for the past 2 years. This year we are revising part of the route due to traffice concerns. AND some of my newbie friends may want to do the actual ride as well. They would probably be up for the
Challenge and I'd be willing to support them in that endeavor.

Cindy Sue did the challenge part last year. She can tell us if it was worth it!!! I've done the challenge part but not as part of the ride.

Anyway, I've already faxed my entry form to someone so if anyone else wants one please feel free to send me your fax number.

Veronica- I've pretty much said goodbye to organized rides as well although from time to time I will probably do some of the smaller ones- Merced ride in March is a good one as well as some later on in the season.

[BikeMomma]

Hi BikeGoddess and All -- that time of year again, eh? And hello!

Plug opportunity:

That Merced ride that BG mentioned is our bike club's own Merco Foothills Century on February 28. There is a metric as well as a full century offered, and is held the same day as a full day of criterium racing (the Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic Downtown Gran Prix....say THAT five times fast!) and family fun events, including a kids' race that is a blast to watch. It's a really neat day of cycling for us and a way to show off our good riding here. A bonus with the ride -- if you hurry up and make it back into town in time, you'll see the start or at least the end of the men's professional race that starts at 3pm. The gal ringing the prime bell might be me - best seat in the house. :p

But I digress....

I got my Cindy registration and have mailed it back already. BG, I am considering doing the Challenge, but with the weather unpredictable the last two years, I'm not really going to commit to it until the day of. Even if it's good weather though, I might not do it, as the Santa Cruz crit is the next day and I might just get talked into it this year. ;)

It's something to consider though -- count me as "tentative."

~BikeMomma

[smilingcat]

I got my form yesterday too.

I enjoyed the ride. It's low key but last year I was chattering my teeth at the second rest stop. Freezing isn't my favorite thing. This year its one week later than last. Will the one week make a difference? :p

I really didn't see bad manners from the group of riders. Anyway, I'm still toying with the idea.

And hi Sarah. waving at her... :D

smilingcat

[jobob]

I enjoyed the ride. It's low key but last year I was chattering my teeth at the second rest stop. Freezing isn't my favorite thing. This year its one week later than last. Will the one week make a difference? :p No idea. That time of year anything goes, weather-wise.

[Veronica]

What no gaggles of bikes stopped at every corner? No riding 2, 3 or 4 abreast? No one stopping in the middle of a hill with no warning and w/o pulling over to get off and walk? :rolleyes:

Veronica

[jobob]

No one stopping in the middle of a hill with no warning and w/o pulling over to get off and walk? Which caused the most amazing chain-reaction group tumble - whee! :D

(I can kind of laugh about it now because I managed to avoid it - barely)

[snapdragen]

smilingcat must've been ahead of the pack -- I've always been stuck with the shaky-all-over-the-road, 2 or 3 abreast, stop sign/red light running pack of femininity. :p

Having said that, I may ride the Cindy one last time, once I'm finally back riding again. It is kind of a rite of passage for new bike riders. :)

//and by the time I'm riding again I'll feel like a new bike rider...

[MM_QFC!]

I've kind of sworn off organized rides in general. Most rides I can do without the support. Plus hordes of cyclists always seem to have poor road manners.

Veronica

+++++1, V - although I'm not yet back on my bike (a car knocked me off it last year, while I was in a crosswalk @$#%!)...I'll continue to stay away from sharing the road with hordes of riders in order to avoid those few but often dangerous ignorant and/or ill-mannered riders (this decision came after riding in loads of organized rides all over, including 6 Seattle-to-Portland
1-day rides).
Tailwinds!
Mary

[Bike Goddess]

Bike Momma- WE did have fun last year on this ride and I do agree my decision will depend on the weather. I can understand your concern about doing a crit the next day affecting what you do on the ride!

Seems the Cinderella is better organized as far as people riding in groups at least from my point of view.

Hopefully a week later in the year will help although this crazy weather is totally unpredictable these days. I think they have made it later because of Daylight Savings Time coming earlier now.

So, I'll most likely get my check in the mail too. :):)

[kjay]

I didn't ride last year but am thinking of doing so this year. I always ride alone and now that I know about the pile-up last year, I shall stay even farther away from everyone. :)

[jobob]

I didn't ride last year but am thinking of doing so this year. I always ride alone and now that I know about the pile-up last year, I shall stay even farther away from everyone. :) The pile-up of which I speak was the first year I rode it, in 2004.
Not so much a pile up actually (implying a high-speed collision, which it most emphatically wasn't) -- more like a mass tip-over. :D

The trick is to stay alert, avoid riding in a big crowd, and not get too close to the people ahead of you.
And have an escape route. :cool:

[melissam]

The pile-up of which I speak was the first year I rode it, in 2004.

Hey, I was there that year! Thankfully, I don't remember the pile up -- as I recall, I wasn't having a very good cycling day, so I was probably miles behind it.

I do remember enjoying the free beer at the end of the ride! :)

- Melissa

[snapdragen]

Wait....free beer?!?:eek:

[melissam]

Wait....free beer?!?:eek:

There was beer back in the day when it started at the other place (not the Pleasanton Fairgrounds.) But, now that I think about it, it was just extremely cheap beer and not free.

[maillotpois]

Right - it was at that bar at the base. I have a great shot of my daughter at that bar (at age 8) when we did the ride on the tandem.

[jobob]

I remember snap and I hung out at the bar at the base the following year. The beer wasn't free, but it was good. Ah, memories. :)

[jobob]

Right - it was at that bar at the base. I have a great shot of my daughter at that bar (at age 8) when we did the ride on the tandem. Wasn't that great picture of you & pp (that you've used as your avatar) from the Cindy that year? Ah, memories. :)

[jobob]

Excuse me, I'm getting all nostalgic. Talk amongst yourselves. :)

[maillotpois]

I did use that as my avatar... not the bar one....

Oh here it is:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/maillotpois/Cinderella1.jpg

[jobob]

Oh, you know that's what I meant, wizeazz.

I love that picture. :)

[maillotpois]

No, I knew that's what you meant, it just took me some time to find it... :D

ETA: It is not "obvious", but those are little plastic "glass slippers" on our helmets. Oh my friend Anna went all out....

[jobob]

Oh is that what those are??? I was wondering, actually.

[maillotpois]

Oh heck, since we've drifted to tandem, heres PP and GP finishing the 110 mile el Tour last Nov.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/maillotpois/IMG_27482.jpg

[Bike Goddess]

My how that little PP has grown. She's still cute, though and her mom does pretty well in that category too! :p:p:p:p

I too love the pic that you got a few years ago. I still have my slipper- now on my spin class backpack to remind me of the Cinderella and the many friends I've met on the way.

Which reminds me- we usually do a little pre-Cinderella dinner the night before. Last year we did it in Rockridge close to BART, but I still like the Pleasanton option better. Oh for the good ole days when Snap and Trek rode this ride. :):)

[maillotpois]

Thanks, Nancy. :)

I think she was basically on the verge of tears for the last 10 miles, and you can kind of tell she's not exactly at her best in the pic. I got separated from them so I didn't get to experience all that. But she did it. :)

[Trek420]

Oh for the good ole days when Snap and Trek rode this ride. :):)

And dinners like this (page 14)

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=13597&page=14

[Karma007]

I'm excited! Being newly returned to the Bay Area, it'll be my first Cinderella! Looks like a blast!

[Duck on Wheels]

... Oh for the good ole days when Snap and Trek rode this ride. :):)

I doubt Snap will be back on the bike yet by April 4, but maybe she'll come to the dinner? And I do think Trek is planning to ride ... right, Trek??? :) You ARE going to ride this year, aren't you? :o You aren't just signing me up to ride all alone, are you??? :eek: And maybe Knot will ride too ... :):rolleyes::cool::p

[Karma007]

Yay! They cashed my check:) I'm in! (I know, overenthusiastic noob!) I had planned to ride my first metric last fall, but things went nuts, so this puts me back on track.

[snapdragen]

It's OK to be an overenthusiastic noob, Cinderella is an excellent choice for your first metric. Have a great time, just remember to avoid the packs. :)

[Karma007]

Was awesome!!!!!

[Trek420]

Pictures please! :) Ride reports :cool:

Here are Duck and Bike Goddess :cool:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=30113

[Karma007]

My pics didn't come out so well, so as my first big ride, here are the stats:

hilites:
seeing the bazillion bikes at the first stop

not getting mushed, or causing a wreck (which was my biggest fear)

food- my vegy sammich, soup, and beer post ride. I INHALED It. It was the best food I've ever eaten...

beautful weather

lemon drop dude, even though I had to spit it out so I didn't choke on it...

It was a great day...

[Bike Goddess]

This year I did the challenge route as well. I'm glad I did. I think the comment "It's 1 3/4 mile to the top of Patterson Pass", was what did it for me. I've done that ride before (last year) but not part of the Cinderella ride and didn't remember much about the climb except that it was HARD! Surprise to me- this year it wasn't that bad and I made it to the top in fine style! The new route is much nicer as we really did just ride country roads with very little traffic.

This was the best Cinderella ride I've been on yet. Maybe that was because we left later (8:10). It was a pleasure to ride with so many gracious cyclists- they thanked people in cars for waiting, thanked the cops, thanked the support folks, thanked the rest stop folks- just a lotta thank yous which I dont' often see on other rides.

Tofu- have you met the Benicia Bike Club folks? They are talking about a cyclist from Martinez and I wondered if it was you????

[gnat23]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gnat23/sets/72157616322324139/

I did the Challenge for the first time. I was a little disappointed that it was not a full-century (85 miles), but "chasing the windmills" was great! Awesome descent out of the first BIG climb!

I was having terrible chain slippage all day, then finally snapped my rear derailleur cable at around mile 60. SAG was able to get me sorted and sent me back on my way to finish strong (whew).

Love the energy, creativity, and friendliness of all the women about. Always a favorite ride for me (even with mechanicals).

-- gnat!

[Trek420]

It was great, I had fun, the weather was beautiful, I am very proud of my big sister or should I say older sister because she's smaller now though she's still taller than me but she's smaller, not that she was big before, not that it would be a bad thing ... oh sod it I had a sucky ride.

I completed the ride, skin side up, rubber side down (I heard riders reporting crashes they saw, I did not witness any or the aftermath, hope all are ok) but slower than ever and just a mass of whining :rolleyes::

my helmet's uncomfortable - whaaaaa
wrong water bottles (short ones, hard to reach, sip, and ride) - whaaaaa
forgot both my sunscreen and butt balm :eek: - whaaaaa :confused:
my foot hurts - big whaaaa and thoughts of Keens and new pedals

I could go on but then you'd all say "whaaaaaaa"

I've been doing more Aikido and Knott says I look more "compact" but Aikido fitness is not bike fitness though good to have on the bike. Nothing says "I'm trained! Let's ride :cool:" like ... well duh!! ... riding.

The riding I've done has been on the commuter and I spent the first 10 miles or so remembering how Campy works. :p

That's ok, right? The route starts out flat.

Did I mention the ride organizer found every hill in the first 15 miles or so? The route was much more scenic, quieter, less traffic, not like it used to be though the business parks. More hills. Thanks ride organizers!

All the while Trek's muttering "uh, Campy, so the thumb thingy on the right, gears go down? or up :("

Oh how the mighty have fallen :p

I wore the Fat Cyclist jersey. Some riders passing me must have thought "oh cool, here's a fat cyclists with a jersey for Fat Cyclists" and "is that a Clydesdale? Cool!" but I had a chat riding briefly with another rider who said Fatty is her DH's favorite website. Another rider at the last rest stop is riding with Team Fatty at Livestrong rides. Some just passed me with a hearty "Win Susan!" instead of calling out my usual name "hey, on your left" :p